Lung cancer stigma

If a person with lung cancer has a smoking history, he or she may experience feelings of guilt. Sometimes they also feel shamed and blamed by other--strangers, medical professionals, even family and friends. And stigma doesn't just affect smokers and former smokers. Many never smokers with lung cancer feel the stigma, too, as do family members. Research is ongoing to understand more about lung cancer stigma so we can help those who experience it and to educate those who do the stigmatizing.